Graduate Studies: What and Why?

Career Development Centre

Graduate Studies: What and Why?

John Hannon

2nd Feb. 2011


Today’s Objectives

• Place further study in context of lifelong learning

• Give an overview to NUI Galway postgraduate study applications and funding

• Limited detail. Requirements constantly changing…full list of postgrad courses on www.postgradireland.ie / www.qualifax.ie OR for UK www.prospects.ac.uk OR for EU http://europa.eu.int/ploteus

• Other study options www.nightcourses.com

http://www.postgradireland.ie/

http://www.qualifax.ie/

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/

http://europa.eu.int/ploteus

http://www.nightcourses.com/


Postgraduate Routes to Employment

DEGREE

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH

POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT / CONVERSION

EMPLOYMENT


Postgraduate Study - Options

Higher Research Degrees

• Examined by thesis, Masters (2 years) or PhD (3 / 4 years…if you are organised + supervised !) e.g. MLitt (Geography), MEngSc, PhD

Taught Masters

• Course work + research project. 1 or 2 years e.g. MA Community Development

Vocational Courses

• Often Higher or Graduate Diplomas / Certificates. Some Masters. E.g. Cert. TEFL, HDipAppSc (Software Design & Development), MAcc

• Training relevant to career area. 1 year


Why postgraduate study?

• Enjoy subject…specialise…but what career?

• Change direction…challenging…able for it?

• Time to consider career options…placement? Time not = inspiration

• Occupational requirement - research / apprenticeship / techniques / skills

Graduate Recruitment Trends Survey 2010 and (2009)

• 48% (56) Graduates ‘who can demonstrate specific competences’

• 60% (53) Must have studied specific degree

• 37% (41) Require a 2.1 min.

• 21% (23) Must have relevant work experience

• 5% (6) Must have studied at particular universities

[ Source: gradireland]

Shortfalls Soft skills Hard skills

• Communication

• Independent working

• Motivation

• Managing own learning

• Confidence

• Problem solving

• Organisation

• Analytical skills

• Writing

• Leadership

• Project management

• Fluency in foreign language

• Administration

• IT

• Numeracy


Information Overload!


What is a postgraduate “conversion” course?

• Taught postgraduate courses that allow graduates to ‘convert’ to a new discipline, a ‘back-door’/second chance

• Many subject areas available, but high concentration in business, law, arts and computing/IT

• 1-2 years duration

• Strong career focus and high employment rates

• Linked directly to skills requirements for growth in current economic climate, help mobility for grads of any discipline

• To ‘convert’ to science or engineering - usually need a primary degree in a related discipline


The Seven Categories of Conversion Programmes

Law

IT

HealthTherapies.Medicine

Engineering,& Science

Education

Business

Arts & Social

Sciences


General points on postgrads

• Exceptions to the rule are common.

• Requirements vary from college to college and from course to course in the same college.

• Do not exclude yourself if you do not meet the entry requirements on paper – contact the course tutor / director to discuss.

Postgraduate Admissions Office: Making an online application

Making an online application

Valerie Leahy, Deputy Admissions Officer (Postgraduate)

P O S T G R A D U A T E O P E N D A Y

2 February 2011


Who does what

Who’s who• Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC)

• Postgraduate Admissions (NUIG)

• College Office and programme director/supervisor


Steps involved

Choose programmes • Prospectus

• Career Development Centre

• Lecturers

• Taught vs. research

• PAC codes

• Closing dates

www.nuigalway.ie/postgrad


Closing date vs. offer round dates

Change for this year• Early application may mean early offer

• Page 22 of prospectus or information online

• Offer round dates (× 5)

• Mid-February, end-March …

• Offers will continue to be made until course is filled

www.nuigalway.ie/postgrad/closingdates


Steps involved

Apply online • Read FAQs

• Two-stage process—online & post/ upload

• Check supporting documents

• Register an account (login)

• Valid e-mail—check often

• €45 application fee

• Assigned PAC number

• Save (and submit)

www.pac.ie/nuigalway


Steps involved

Sample application forms (two online pages to complete)

• Under PAC FAQs, No. 1 www.pac.ie/nuigalway


Steps involved

Supporting documents • Check website

• Requirements vary, e.g.,personal statement, C.V., exemption form

• Post or upload.

• Write your PAC numberon each page and post to:PAC, 1 Courthouse Square,Galway.

• Docs. scanned in & appended to your electronic application.

www.nuigalway.ie/postgrad/pac_supp_docs.html


Steps involved

How it all works … • Once application made online, you’ll receive confirmation email.

• Keep email account active and check regularly.

• Log into your account to check your updated status.

• You’ll be reminded if you’re missing documents.

• Check offer round dates.

• If successful, you’ll be made an offer via the system; can accept or decline the offer online.

• Note: non-refundable deposit required to secure course-place, deducted from your course fee … can be transferred to another NUIG course if you receive a subsequent offer.


Tips

• Do your research—online and talk to academics, current students, Careers.

• Look at FAQs—postgrad website and on PAC.

• Check what supporting docs. you need & assemble well in advance.

• Watch offer round dates.

• Use all your course choices … keep your options open.No need to order by preference.

• Keep your email account active and in good order to ensure emails get through to you.


Good luck!

Any questions?

Valerie Leahy, Deputy Admissions Officer (Postgraduate)

P O S T G R A D U A T E O P E N D A Y

2 February 2011

[email protected] | Tel. (091) 492 844 | www.nuigalway.ie/postgrad

Pamela Devins


Writing a Personal Statement

• What to include?

• How to write an effective Personal Statement?

Personal Statements

What do Course Directors like to see?

• Why you want to do the course?

• Well rounded personality

• A well-written statement

• A well-presented statement (pride)

• Strong introduction and conclusion

• Relevant work exp.

• Evidence of broad key skills e.g. Teamwork, Presentation Skills

• Evidence of being a hard worker

• Anything distinctive about degree results?

Possible outline….brainstorm

• Section 1 – This course + college – why?

• Section 2. Academic qualifications and attributes…how has college life led you to this? Have an achievement focus. Relevant subjects / modules / projects you have done…if you are missing something, what can you offer as a substitute?

Possible outline….

• Section 3 – personal qualities + achievements that make you suitable…outline what you want to get from the course (not necessarily ‘career’ if the course is not vocational)…can be related to work, extra-curricular etc.

Note: It is not an autobiography. Every sentence is important and should convince the reader that you have the academic ability, skills and motivation to complete the programme successfully

Avoid…

• Waffle• Swallowing a dictionary• Absence of evidence…could be seen as lying.• Writing at length about results• Ordinary interests…show your involvement• Rushing, thinking you can write it without research

and advice

Interests and experiences outside college

• Identify and outline key activities or experiences which you have gained.

• Only give information on interests and experiences outside college if you have something to say…make it relevant

Writing the PS

• Play close attention to paragraphs and sentences

• Spell check and grammar check

• Ask someone to proof read

• Use the active voice

• Be precise with punctuation

Using “I”

• This is a personal statement so using the first person pronoun I is acceptable

• Using the third person makes the prose vague

• Try not to have short clipped sentences, instead use words to link sentences

Useful Linking Words

• Furthermore

• In addition

• Yet

• Which

• However

• Including

• Namely

• As a result

• Moreover

• In Conclusion

• Finally

• Particularly

• For instance

Check, check, check

• Be meticulous before submitting check for:– Accuracy

– Relevance

• Your writing reflects you so make sure it is as impressive as possible


• Visit website for further info or to book an appointment to get your personal statement reviewed (current students)

www.nuigalway.ie/careers

Graduate Studies Graduate Studies OrientationOrientation

Dr. Pat MorganDr. Pat MorganDean of Graduate StudiesDean of Graduate Studies

Wednesday 2Wednesday 2ndnd February 2011 February 2011

Who are Graduate Studies?Who are Graduate Studies?• Dean

– Pat Morgan

• Senior Administrator – Anna Marie Leonard

• Administrators– Sandra Donohue (on leave to April 2011)

– Siobhán Cunningham

Research and Graduate CommunityResearch and Graduate Community

• Academic Staff 781

• Post-doctoral Researchers 255

• Postgraduate Students – Taught 1658– Research 1044

• International 309

University Research GuidelinesUniversity Research Guidelines

• Guidelines http://www.nuigalway.ie/graduatestudies/Current_Students_2/guidelines.html

• Structured PhD • Graduate Research Committee• Generic, Transferable and Discipline Specific

Modules• IUA http://www.iua.ie/index.html

• IUQB http://www.iuqb.ie/info/good_practice_guides.aspx

How to Find Funding - How to Find Funding - ResourcesResources

• Research Programmes– Supervisor / Competitive / Limited

• Taught Programmes– Financing a course is the responsibility of the student.

– You may be eligible for a Local Authority Grant. Contact your local County Council -Higher Education Grants Office.

– Revenue Office websites http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it1.html#section16 and http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it31.html

– http://www.nuigalway.ie/postgrad/fees/


• Research Office http://www.nuigalway.ie/research/vp_research/seminars.html

• International Officehttp://www.nuigalway.ie/international/

• Fees Officehttp://www.nuigalway.ie/student_fees/

• Research Accountshttp://www.nuigalway.ie/research_accounting/funders.html


• College Studentshipshttp://www.nuigalway.ie/colleges-and-schools/

• Postgraduate Admissionshttp://www.nuigalway.ie/admission/postgrad/fees/

• Graduate Studieshttp://www.nuigalway.ie/graduatestudies/Research_Degrees/funding_sources.html

• Career Development Centre http://www.nuigalway.ie/careers/students/courses.html

Postgraduate research scholarshipsPostgraduate research scholarshipsin the College of Science, NUI Galwayin the College of Science, NUI Galway

• Full-time research toward MSc or PhD degrees. • Scholarships include fees (at EU rates) and annual

stipends of up to €12,000 for up to four years. • • The closing date for applications• is 5 pm, Friday, 18th February, 2011• • Further information and application forms are available

on the College of Science website: • • www.nuigalway.ie/science/ • www.nuigalway.ie/science/scholarshipsandprizes.html

Other Possible SourcesOther Possible Sources

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Health Research Board (HRB)

• Higher Education Authority (HEA)• National University of Ireland (NUI)

• Royal Irish Academy (RIA)

• Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

• Teagasc

IRCSET IRCSET Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering

and Technologyand Technology

• IRCSET is an independent research funding body established to promote science and engineering research in Ireland

• Call for funding under the EMBARK Initiative 2011 (Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme). There will be one competition under this scheme in 2011.

• Call is currently open • Accept applications until 16 February 2011 • Further information can be found :

http://www.ircset.ie/Default.aspx?tabid=68

IRCHSS IRCHSS Irish Research Council for the Humanities Irish Research Council for the Humanities

and Social Sciencesand Social Sciences

• IRCHSS aims to develop Ireland's research capacity• IRCHSS 2011/12 Government of Ireland Postgraduate

Scholarship Scheme is now open for applications

• Closing date is 4pm Monday February 21st 2011• Applicants can submit their queries to [email protected] and

the answers will be published in the FAQs • IRCHSS website:

http://www.irchss.ie/schemes/scheme01/index.html

Graduate Skills Conversion Programme Graduate Skills Conversion Programme 2011/20122011/2012

• • NUI Galway Information Communications Technology (ICT) • Reduced programme fees for entry 2011 (€2,750)

– MSc (Information Systems Management) (F-T)– HDip (ApplSc [Software Design & Development])(F-T)– Master of Information Technology (F-T)– MSc Software Design and Development (F-T)– MBS Electronic Commerce (F-T) – Ard Diploma i dTeicneolaiocht na Faisneise (F-T)– MA/PDip in Digital Media (F-T)– MSc in Information Systems Management (P-T)– MSc Software Design and Development (P-T)

• See www.hea.ie/en/skills for details.

Graduate Studies: What and Why?

Documents

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